A blog about genealogy and thoughts about the various roots and branches of my family tree as well as the times in which my ancestors lived.Included are the West, White,and McFarland families.WARNING:DO NOT TAKE ALL OF MY FAMILY RECORDS AS GOSPEL. ALWAYS CONFIRM YOUR OWN RESEARCH!

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Friday, November 16, 2012

JOHN EMERY OF NEWBURY PT8

We're now nearly at the end of the testimony in the case against Henry
Greenland 's advances to the married Mary Rolfe. One of the things I've
wondered about reading the published transactions is whether the order
of the depositions are printed in the exact chronological order they
were given. It would seem so in this case, since in this next deposition
John Emery's wife refers to her daughter's earlier testimony:

Hana (her mark) Noic, aged about twenty years, deposed that Goody Emerie said that she never saw any evil carriage between Mr. Grenland and Goody Roff. Further that Mr. Grenland was a traveler and a stranger and one who was very politic and no fool, and that she loved the woman as her own child and wouldnot do her harm for her hand, etc. She further deposed that Goody Emerie accused her daughter, Betie Webster, of taking a false oath before the magistrateand Betie answered that she had said nothing but what she would stand to. Then her mother told her she lied and had taken her oath to a paper that she had heard read but once. "Betie said I never said so: nor never took oth to Nothing but the truth and that I will stand to the death." Deponent's motherand herself being together at Goody Rof's, they saw the maid Bete Webster much troubled and crying. "My mother asked her why she was troubled sheAnswered my mother is such a trouble to me I cannot Eate nor sleep My mother ansur was if you have spoken nothing but the truth what need you betroubled." Mary Noyes also testified to the same. Sworn in court.

Barbri (her mark) Elsly, aged about fifty years, deposed that being at the new town where Betie Webster was, she asked her if it were true that the doctor was in Goody Roff's house, and she said it was. Deponent said, "0 Lasse why did you let him in at dore: she answered that he did so Fumbel at the dore shethought he would have broke it open: but she said would we had Lett him hauebroke it open for then it is said he would have bin hanged: I said I wished thay had not let him in thoug: she said that he desired but to light a pipe of tobaco and vowed he would not touch them so she said she let him in: I said did not you nor goody Roffe se him put of his Clothes before he Cam in to bed: she answered no for she was unreking the fier fore she said she had newly Raked itup and thought Mr Grenland had stood behind hir: and she said goody Roffe wasa bed feeding her child with her bac towards the fier . . . betie said goody Rofe was so afrighted that she fell into a greevios fitt: then beti said sir what haue youdon you have put the woman in to a fitt that she fered whether she would be well to night: and she said he made answer the Devell had such fitts or sent suchfitts and it was nothing but a mad fitt. then I asked betie whether he did not giveher som Comfortabl thing in hir fitt: and she said no no kind of thing but Railed athir: betee said when Goody Rofe was Recovred then goody Rofe said sir who hauegiuen the ofenc or what ofenc haue I given that you should speke such words: thenbetie tould me that as soon as he se she Could speke he went in to bed again: thenI asked why goody Rofe did not Crie out: Crie out said betie she did Cri out and saidlord help me what shall I do he will . . . and she said upon the out Crie or hering theout Crie he Cam in and then I hope her up: morour I said to betie dost thinke she . . . well then said I am perswaded goody Rofe is an honest woman and so am I saidbetie," etc. Sworn in court.

All of these depositions starting with Part 2 of this series of blogposts are from
pp47-55 ofRecords and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts Vol3 (Essex Institute 1913).

Looking back on all this, we have the rambunctious Henry Greenland apparentlytaking liberties with both Mary Rolfe and Elizabeth Webster. John Emery, who
had promised Mary's husband he'd watch over her, seemed to feel it wasn't a
serious matter and in fact ignored his duty as a grand juryman by not reporting
Greenland to the authorities. Mary Rolfe herself doesn't want to report it either,
claiming she doesn't want to see Greenland hung, but I had to wonder if it was
more to protect her own reputation. After all, this was the society Hawthorne
wrote about in "The Scarlet Letter."

Indeed, it did all come out. Greenland was charged with soliciting Mary
Rolfe to adultery and was found guilty. John Emery was probably dismissed
from the grand jury. But there was still more repercussions.